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Dear Friend,
It’s Joe Courtney. After a busy week in Congress, I'm back home in eastern Connecticut. Here with an update on the latest news from the week. As always, thanks for starting your weekend here with me.
After a Peaceful Transfer of Power, Ready to Get to Work
On Monday, President Trump and Vice President Vance were officially sworn into office at the inaugural ceremony in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. For the 60th time in the 248 years of our republic, the peaceful transfer of power was successfully executed. Congratulations to our 47th President Donal Trump and Vice President Vance.
I look forward to working with the new administration whenever and where possible to lower the cost of living and expand opportunity for the people of eastern Connecticut. I am determined to ensure that the administration supports my work in Congress to continue the recent multi-year investments in education and job training that is critical to growing one of the fastest growing manufacturing job markets in the northeast.
As a member of the co-equal legislative branch of our government, I will also challenge the executive branch, as I did this week, over President Trump's unwarranted day-one firing of Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan – who skillfully engineered an increase in enlistment and retention and higher rates of drug interdictions – as well as his highly flawed executive orders to overturn birthright citizenship and give full, unconditional pardons to violence criminals who beat, dragged, tased, and pepper sprayed law enforcement officers on January 6th, 2021. We will do everything we can to support the law enforcement who were victims of these crimes, and ensure that their mission to defend our republic continues.
15 New Drugs Selected for Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
In case you missed it, last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced 15 more medications that have been selected for drug price negotiation with drugmakers.
These medications join an initial list of 10 drugs which underwent negotiation last year, resulting in lower costs by up to 80%. Now, the Trump administration must follow through with price negotiation and implementation of the lower costs.
An AUKUS Update from Washington
On Wednesday, I had the chance to meet with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong during her visit to the U.S. Capitol with Ambassador Kevin Rudd. Just two days into the new presidential administration, Minister Wong met with Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate – a strong display of the bipartisan support for AUKUS and the U.S.-Australia partnership.
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| Left to right: Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, Rep. Courtney, and Commander Jarrett Crossgrove, a Defense Fellow in Rep. Courtney's office |
Outside of Capitol Hill, the AUKUS plan has been coming to life with joint training of Australian submarines here in eastern Connecticut as well as in South Carolina, Virginia class submarine visits to Perth, and joint repair and maintenance work in Guam and Hawaii. Just yesterday in Honolulu, Australia's Secretary of Defence visited the USS Montana, a Virginia Class attack sub, with embarked Australian Navy submariners working alongside U.S. Navy sailors.
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| Left to right: Australian Secretary of Defence Greg Moriarty, USS Montana Commanding Officer John Gilligan, and Australian Navy officers serving aboard the Virginia-class submarine. |
At every step of the way, Australia has supported this effort with people and funding which demonstrates this is a true partnership that the US benefits from as much as our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Post of the Week: Submarine Construction Yard Tonnage
I wanted to make sure you saw this post on Facebook:
Meeting with the American Chiropractic Association
On Thursday, I welcomed the American Chiropractic Association to my office to discuss how Congress can support their efforts to expand access to affordable chiropractic care for Medicare beneficiaries and veterans. Many veterans receive chiropractic care through VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOCs). Thank you to these care providers for their ongoing advocacy on Capitol Hill.
After a Bipartisan Letter to Trump, Direct File is Here to Stay
I’m committed to bringing costs down for Connecticut residents wherever possible. Earlier this month, I sent a bipartisan letter to the Trump administration, urging them to maintain the free, online tax filing tool, IRS Direct File, in 2025. The new administration followed suit, and Direct File will remain available to tax filers in 2025. And, for the first time, the free, effective, and popular tool is coming to Connecticut for federal tax filing.
IRS Direct File is a free, online tool to file federal taxes directly with the IRS. It was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, which I helped pass in 2022. As an alternative to costly and time consuming tax filing services, Direct File is estimated to save Americans $11 billion a year nationwide if implemented at scale.
Tax filing for 2025 opens on January 27th. To access Direct File, click here.
Thanks for taking some time to read my update. If we can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139.
Sincerely,
Joe Courtney
Member of Congress
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